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Marcie Flournoy

LONG & FOSTER Real Estate, Inc.

Telephone: 703.362.7866

Fax: 703.249.8597

Email: MARCIE@BuyinVA.com

NORTHERN VIRGINIA Luxury Homes Get Boost From National Exposure

MARCIE FLOURNOY Among First to Participate in National Advertising Program for Luxury Home Specialists

FAIRFAX, VA  (OCTOBER, 2005) – MARCIE FLOURNOY, a Northern Virginia real estate agent with LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE, INC., is among the first group of real estate agents invited to participate in a national advertising program between The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s magazine, and The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.

“This is a great opportunity for me and my clients,” says FLOURNOY. “Participating in this program allows me to reach clients across the nation who may be looking in Northern Virginia for their next upper-tier property.”   

A recent report by The Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies shows that the number of “million-dollar” homes has grown dramatically faster than the total number of homes in the U.S. This increase in upper-tier properties has led to Northern Virginia seeing an increase in the number of new and inexperienced real estate agents targeting the upscale market segment.

“Northern Virginia has a lot to offer affluent consumers,” FLOURNOY continued. “Recognition by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing assures those potential buyers of my unique training and specialized knowledge, and opens new communication networks that will enhance my ability to serve my clients well.”

FLOURNOY’s national exposure comes at the right time. According to Carl Steidtmann, chief economist for Deloitte Research, a leading professional financial services firm, “many consumers postponed buying new homes until interest rates reached the bottom. With interest rates on the rise, they have decided to get off the dime to avoid higher rates.”  Steidtmann’s comments were reinforced by a Wall Street Journal article in mid-May, which reported that multi-million dollar homes “are starting to sell briskly.”

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing decided to feature some of its members in The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s financial weekly because of the publications’ strong readership profiles: Their readers have an average household income of over $200,000 and have an average household net worth of over $2 million. These statistics translate into a wealth of opportunities for Flournoy to bring both local and national affluent consumers who are looking to either buy or upgrade in the Northern Virginia market.

About The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing exists to help real estate professionals around the world provide high quality service to buyers and sellers of luxury properties.  Institute members have completed special training to build expertise in the marketing of upscale homes and estates and those who meet performance standards may earn the prestigious Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation. Information and an international membership list can be found at www.CLHMS.org. Members are also listed on the Wall Street Journal’s RealEstateJournal.com website.